The stove is hot! Well, not quite. But free agency is upon us, both at the Major League Level and at the Minor League level. At the big league level the Cincinnati Reds only had two free agents – Alex Wood and Jose Iglesias. In the minors there were a lot more. That’s to be expected – there are hundreds of players in the farm system.
In total there were 31 players from the Reds farm system that elected free agency this year. Among that group there are eight former Major Leaguers. Former big league pitchers Tim Collins, Keury Mella, Jon Moscot, Jackson Stephens, and Eric Stout all chose to become free agents. Among the position players that chose free agency that have big league experience, catchers Nick Ciuffo and Stuart Turner will test the market. Infielder Christian Colon will also join them in trying to find another team.
Of those guys, Christian Colon, Keury Mella, Jon Moscot, Jackson Stephens, and Stuart Turner all appeared with the Reds. The rest of the players reached the Major Leagues before joining the Cincinnati organization, but were never in a Reds uniform at the big league level.
Here’s the entire list of players that chose to head to free agency following the 2019 season. Baseball America has the list of free agents for every team – a list that’s over 600 players. Be sure to check that out as a place to see where the team could look to add undderated/underappreciated players.
Position | Player |
| LHP | Alec Byrd |
| RHP | Alex Powers |
| RHP | Brad Markey |
| IF | Bryant Flete |
| IF | Calten Daal |
| C | Chadwick Tromp |
| IF | – Christian Colon – |
| RHP | Clate Schmidt |
| RHP | Cory Thompson |
| LHP | – Eric Stout – |
Position | Player |
| RHP | – Jackson Stephens – |
| RHP | Johendi Jiminian |
| RHP | – Jon Moscot – |
| RHP | Jonathon Crawford |
| RHP | Jose Adames |
| LHP | Juan Martinez |
| RHP | Justin Grimm |
| RHP | – Keury Mella – |
| IF | Luis Gonzalez |
| OF | Michael O’Neill |
Position | Player |
| IF | Mitch Nay |
| C | – Nick Ciuffo – |
| OF/1B | Nick Longhi |
| C | Pabel Manzanero |
| RHP | Raul Wallace |
| 1B | Samir Duenez |
| C | – Stuart Turner – |
| LHP | – Tim Collins – |
| LHP | Ty Boyles |
| RHP | Wendolyn Bautista |
| IF | Yonathan Mendoza |
| – Former Major Leaguer – | |
Just because these players elected free agency doesn’t mean they won’t return to play for the Reds next year. But it does mean that they are choosing to explore their options – as they absolutely should. Several free agents after last season chose to re-sign with the organization – including a few that are again opting for free agency. Mitch Nay, Hernan Iribarren, and Mason Williams all tested the free agent waters following the 2018 campaign and re-signed with the Reds. Nay was the only one of the three who played in 2019 for the Cincinnati organization. Iribarren moved into a coaching role with the Reds, and Williams was released in spring training and signed with the Orioles – eventually seeing some time in the Major Leagues with them during the season.